Hello
Have you ever been caught in a pickle? Not with your finger in the jar, but found yourself in an untenable situation? How’d you get out of/around it? (I’d be honored to hear the details, otherwise feel free to think it over for yourself) For many of us, the details are indelibly printed on our memories. (Great!) But in those ‘rescue’ details, where was God? Please consider today’s Holy Nougat
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.” Lamentations 3:22 NLT
Just because we don’t see Jesus, the Holy Spirit (Fire, doves or rushing Wind) or angels doesn’t mean God failed to rescue us from the pickle. God’s hand is not always visible, but God’s love is abundantly powerfully present with us, especially in the rough patches of life. I think of this past year and I tell you – if it had not been for God, I would either be picking ants or feeding them from down below. And through my pain, through my questions, through the disappointments … through the silence – God’s loving kindness (hesed) kept me.
Now here’s the funny thing, raw diamonds don’t necessarily begin their lives as diamonds. They usually are lumps of ‘coal’, unassuming bits of carbon. But having been buried and pressurized, the beauty of the solitaire begins to glimmer. And even then I’m told, it requires a diamond to cut diamond; go figure!
Like diamonds though, only a few appreciate our worth fully until we are refined and cast. But God sees our worth. So much so that from the lump moment God placed value to us and prepared a special Refining process just for us. Indeed, God’s love enfolds us during our rough seasons to make us diamonds (or crude oil) and through the Blood of Jesus, we are refined until God’s glory shines through (or pours out).
Diamond’s worth is measured in carats, our worth is measured in God’s love, which enfolds us, refines us and places us where we shine best. Good love. God’s love. So in the good times, let’s thank God for appreciating our worth. In the rough patches, let’s thank God for refining us in Love so we know Who we’re worth.
Good morning
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
